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INCORPORATING MUSIC COMPOSITION
IN MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND REHEARSALS
by
Alexander P. Koops
A Dissertation Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE THORNTON SCHOOL OF MUSIC
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS
(MUSIC EDUCATION)
December 2009
Copyright 2009 Alexander P. Koops

The purpose of this teacher action research project was to develop and field-test a music composition curriculum for middle school band and assess whether the curriculum was adequate for overcoming the obstacles of teacher-training, resources, time and large group composition. Three phases were completed: 1) an exploratory pilot phase (lesson plan and curriculum development); 2) a second pilot phase (lessons tested); and 3) a final phase (five band directors taught and assessed the curriculum). Research questions focused on the extent to which middle school band directors and their students were able to successfully follow the proposed curriculum.; Five middle school band directors and their bands representing diverse ethnic and socio economic backgrounds were chosen to participate in the project as well as two composers who reviewed the curriculum and provided feed back. Each of the participating directors taught the proposed curriculum involving ten lessons over approximately two to five weeks. Initial data collection included the initial gathering of lesson plans and the development of a composition curriculum from journals, dissertations, living composers, audio and video materials, and two pilot projects with three different middle school bands. Additional data collection included field observations and notes, interviews with band directors and composers, and a final focus group interview with participating band directors.; The final results will help contribute to the development of basic resources and strategies for music teachers to use to teach composition to middle school students and for college music education professors to teach pre-service public school music educators on incorporating composition into their classroom teaching.

INCORPORATING MUSIC COMPOSITION
IN MIDDLE SCHOOL BAND REHEARSALS
by
Alexander P. Koops
A Dissertation Presented to the
FACULTY OF THE THORNTON SCHOOL OF MUSIC
UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
In Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Degree
DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS
(MUSIC EDUCATION)
December 2009
Copyright 2009 Alexander P. Koops